Hightower feverish in spring work

O'Keefe likes attitude

Published 5:30 am, Thursday, May 31, 2001

With a 7-4 record in its inaugural varsity season, it didn't take the Hightower Hurricanes long to get into the swing of competition with the big boys.

Head football coach Kevin O'Keefe said his team has taken to this year's spring sessions equally as well.

The Hurricanes finished with a District 20-5A record of 5-2 last season with a berth into the playoffs. Hightower followed up this offseason with spring drills that concluded early this week with a scrimmage rather than a full-fledged spring game.

"Because of little injuries -- we had kids with some fingers and things like that we held them out -- we just low-keyed the (game) and kept it here on campus and finished up that way," O'Keefe said.

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The scrimmage completed an eventful set of workouts, the coach said.

"We had what we consider a very good spring," he said. "The most impressive thing has been the ability of our players to practice hard. They've learned how to really go full speed every day all the time. In fact, as coaches we've had to back off, because it's been so intense and so physical.

"So, I'm real proud of them in terms of their maturity. We've taken a big step forward as a football team."

O'Keefe said a year of experience has made a huge difference, physically, mentally and emotionally.

"This will be a really big senior class," he noted. "They've played varsity football. They had a taste of success but yet at the same time (experienced) a bitter loss to Katy at the end of the year.

"I think they've just made a commitment to be the best football team they can be. That's what they've shown all spring."

The Hurricanes welcome back nine starters on offense and five more on defense. All told, though 20 seniors will graduate off last season's squad, 25-plus lettermen will be back.

"We feel like the ones that were starters, we've replaced with good people and feel like we're way ahead of where we were this time last year," O'Keefe said.

The focus was more concentrated on defense, where six starters grab their cap and gown. "As far as a rebuilding effort, definitely, but the people who have stepped in to those spots have really been impressive and showed us a lot," O'Keefe said. "We think we've got a chance to actually have a better defensive unit next year."

On offense, the coach said the team focused mainly on the aerial game in drills.

O'Keefe said the team accomplished several objectives during the spring. Junior quarterback Cory Rodgers looks to go airborne next fall.

"Most notable (of the changes), we feel like our ability to throw the football is going to be greatly improved," O'Keefe said.

It made for a spring that should prompt growth in the team on the gridiron next season.

"We had a certain number of goals that we wanted to accomplish," O' Keefe said. "Playing hard was the first and foremost, plus, both sides of the ball had a few things that we researched this winter and wanted to see what it would look like to make us a better team."